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NICU Guidelines

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Important Reminders About the NICU

To help protect newborns being cared for in the Rady Children's at Rancho Springs Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), please remember the following:

Help control infection. Wash your hands well before entering NICU.

If you’re ill, please do not enter the NICU except under unusual situations. Please wear the mask that we provide to you.

Limit the number of NICU visitors. We ask that a maximum of three people be in the NICU with your baby at any given time.

Keep voices and noise at a minimum. NICU newborns are very sensitive.

Cell Phones

Please turn off your cell phone before entering NICU and observe other no-cell areas in the hospital. Technologies in cell phones can interfere with delicate electronics in medical equipment. Seen and unseen electrical sparks are highly dangerous near oxygen tanks and tubes. And the ringing of cell phones is very disturbing to NICU babies’ extra-sensitive ears.

Baby Privacy

Privacy is a priority at Rancho Springs. While in the NICU, we ask the following:

Do not ask about other babies, their health information is private.

Be sure you’re alone in the NICU or that you move to a more private area when having discussions about your baby's condition.

Siblings and other Visitors

Brothers and sisters older than two years of age are encouraged to visit their new sibling in the NICU at select times. Talk with your baby’s nurse about which day to arrange a one time visit so it can be special for everyone. Be sure siblings are healthy (no colds) and that they wash their hands at the washing station.

Because the risk of infection is so high in NICU babies, we request that only blood relatives under the age of 16 visit. People who are older than 16 who are not blood relatives are welcome one-time guests.

If you need a referral to a OB/GYN or other physician at Rancho Springs Medical Center, call our free physician referral service at 1-800-879-1020.

Southwest Healthcare System is owned and operated by a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS), a King of Prussia, PA-based company, that is one of the largest healthcare management companies in the nation.

The information on this website is provided as general health guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular health condition. Your individual health status and any required medical treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your physician. Neither Southwest Healthcare System, or any of their affiliates, nor any contributors shall have any liability for the content or any errors or omissions in the information provided by this website.

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